A breath of fresh air in his youth but he comes across as totally boring and defeated now (post name-change). Which is the last thing I would have expected from him.

Wildcard being the latest album with any sort of polish, production greatness and quality.

He loved to talk himself up too much in the past; it may have worked very briefly, but not so long after that. He was bound to get resistance from those who thought he wasn't all that.

Neither Fish Nor Flesh was too indulgent and experimental for the masses to swallow. It wasn't the strong easy-to-digest follow-up that the masses were expecting. The end started here. Even though I thought it was great.

Neither Symphony Or Damn nor Vibrator could correct those disappointments for many, though they both should have done far better than they did, sales-wise; they were very strong albums. If he followed-up with one of these albums, he'd still be hot shit today.

The Sony/CBS/MJ stuff may be true, but to solely blame these guys on his lack of (commercial) success in later years would be ignoring much of what was his own doing. His almost total lack of marketing talent and (IMO) very low-quality output post-Wildcard doesn't build up a strong case for his (so-called) freedom either.

[Edited 3/18/12 19:13pm]

I agree Flintz with alot of what you are saying ...

I remember reading after the second album came out - he got great reviews from Rolling Stone for that "follow up album" - but he made the comment about the Beatles ... I think he also posed nude at one point ... and he had this single "billy dont fall in love with me" that was just an odd choice for the states ... I don't think it went anywhere here ...

I wore out "Symphony or Damn" and "Vibrator" ... and then ... no Terence for a while ...

"wildcard " for me was a return to form - wore that one out (just bought a new one the other month) but he announced a US tour and then ... kinda only did a few shows (I caught the show in NYC which I loved ... his voice is truly amazing live) ...

after that ... in my opinion ... I have not gotten into any of the other music . I tried to download one album ... never really listened to it much ... its sitting in front of me on an mp3 player I never use ...

smoothcriminal12 said:

scriptgirl said:

But even if the 2nd album wasn't commercial, it's odd that his career tanked so badly. I mean, that wasn't the norm back then, right?

It was too unconventional. He didn't have one hard hitter like Wishing Well on it.

It was like Around the world after Purple Rain, although TTD's second album was even less commercial than Around the world and TTD wasn't as big as Prince at Purple Rain.

smoothcriminal12 said:

scriptgirl said:

But even if the 2nd album wasn't commercial, it's odd that his career tanked so badly. I mean, that wasn't the norm back then, right?

It was too unconventional. He didn't have one hard hitter like Wishing Well on it.

True. I think he was aiming for a Lovesexy/Artistic feel album, but on your sophomore CD that's hard to do, even by Prince's standards. (Even Around the World In a Day had a couple hits - as quirky as ATWIAD was)

If he had a couple strong hits again - like you said - he could've pulled a Lovesexy later on in his career. That said, NFNF is a sweet album, and his 3rd album is amazing(and my favorite TTD).

nursev said:

alphastreet said:

I've loved Wishing Well since 88, but discovered this song in recent years and love it even more. The live performance in Europe is the best . He has amazing stage presence and a great voice.

Say what I gotta look around for that version Wishing well is a classic too. I have loved his voice since hearing If You Let Me Stay-just beautiful. The Orger Serious told me about Holding On To You and I love that one too

That totally made my day

alphastreet said:

nursev said:

Yeah I see all of those influences and Prince too with the gigantic split/jump in the beginning. Great performance!

So great that Milli Vanilli tried to top it in the following year

Frank Farian put Rob and Fab into Milli Vanilli because they ressembled TTD so much who he had worked with before he became so famous suddenly. He was pissed that he was not the one who made him famous and when he saw Rob and Fab the first time he thought "Wow 2 Terence Trent D'Arbys" and it worked. He tells the story all the time on TV .

ColAngus said:

was this Terence's first US hit? I seem to remember Terence was huge in europe when I was in Europe and then when I came back .. he had this song out (before wishing well and dance lil sister, etc).

Loved that album .

I have no idea about the US but here in Europe this song made him famous, then Wishing Well made him even more famous and Sign Your Name is his best known song over here.

When If You let Me Stay came out I didn't love it right away, I very much prefered Wishing Well and I still d, but I grew to love If You Let Me Stay too more and more with the years .

robertlove said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

It was too unconventional. He didn't have one hard hitter like Wishing Well on it.

It was like Around the world after Purple Rain, although TTD's second album was even less commercial than Around the world and TTD wasn't as big as Prince at Purple Rain.

Gunsnhalen said:

Eh, i adore his albums. And i'm kind of glad he didn't have lots & lots of hits. He got a lot of freedom on his records to what he wants. No matter how weird or essentric

I wholeheartly agree. Wishing Well was his first hit in the US.

The 'Symphony Or Damn' album which came out in 93 I think was a hot one too. I still listen to that one to this day.

BobbyDrake said: